News Ltd claims Kewell will be back within the week after recovering from a groin problem and latterly a pinched nerve.

Kewell has been out of action since December and both he and Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek will be desperate to get as much match time as possible clocked up between now and the end of the Turkish season.

Such optimism is not shared by the Fairfax press with a report in the Sun Herald suggesting that Kewell could be struggling for the World Cup.

However, in the same article an FFA spokesman is quoted as saying: "At this stage there are a few niggling injuries but no major concerns."